NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Our roller coaster experience from May carried on into June. This is where the roller coaster began its series of rapid ups and downs. We were able to move into our new home at the beginning of June and had some help moving our heavy things. We needed to downsize our things as the house is a little smaller and some of the owners’ furniture had to stay in the house. We managed to find homes for the extra pieces of furniture. We had two families who were interested in subletting our house, but in the last week before we left, both families backed out.

The sale of our vehicles went slow, especially since most Filipinos want diesel instead of gas. We did have several who came to look, often offering much less than we had hoped. Nine days before we left the Philippines, a beer delivery truck ran into the side of our van. The company was willing to pay the damages, but it still meant having to deal with them and getting it fixed as well as lowered value. God again intervened and brought a buyer who wanted to give us the price we had hoped (after the air conditioning went out a few days before that) and to deal with the company for reimbursement! We were able to sell the two vehicles in one day to two different buyers within a couple hours.

We sent Ben to the US nine days before we left so that he could find a job. Two days before we arrived, he found a job with a framer. His trip went well, but started out a little rocky. At the Manila airport, he had to give up some of his WWII souvenirs he had found in the Philippines. Ours started out dealing with overweight luggage as we were wrongly told we could take 32 kilos in each piece of luggage. We were able to work out something, and of course pay, and make it to our flight. We lost one piece when we arrived in Kansas, but they were able to trace it and get it back to us two days later.

Through these roller coaster experiences, God has been teaching us to rely more completely on Him and commit small and big details to Him. As I listen to a song by Steve Green, I am reminded that we do not have the plan in hand or the end in sight, but we just need to follow Him and do what He asks of us. He is quite capable to supply for us. Continue to pray with us for a family to sublet our house (and watch our dog) as well as our finances.

We have enjoyed being back in the US, seeing many friends and family. We are presently living with my parents, but we move into our own house at the end of July.

Thank you for your continued prayer and financial support. We are looking forward to seeing you while we are in the US for the year and would love to speak at your church.

In Christ,

Cheryl for the Seven Spicer’s

We are excited and humbled how God continues to provide for us. We do not have all the money in hand yet; but from what we have already and what is promised, we have enough money for our tickets and our debt. PTL! Our mission approved the purchase of our tickets so we were able to secure them. Please continue to pray for our financial needs as we close up things here and set up a house in Wichita—many more expenses to pay, but we are thankful how God continues to provide for all our needs (Phil 4:19).

We only have three weeks left of the school year. I have been busy observing teachers and writing up an evaluation on each them as their principal. Meeting with students and parents has also kept me busy, as well as planning for next school year (teacher placement, budget, etc).

We were able to honor and celebrate with Ben and another boy as they earned the rank of Eagle Scout. It was a very nice ceremony with many there to congratulate and encourage them.

The many activities for our senior class have begun. Last night was the Junior/Senior Banquet. We are still planning the senior trip and many other activities, like baccalaureate, graduation, etc. The other kids will also have final recitals, concerts and the science fair. Our kids are also beginning to process their good-byes and realize how hard it will be for them. Ashley and I just returned from the 8th Grade Retreat. We had two adult speakers, plus two eighth graders spoke as well. They challenged us from God’s Word, plus we had some activities to bring closure to the year and say “Good-bye.”

We are in the process of working out a contract for a house for the next few years here in the Philippines. We still need to get a family who will sublet the house for us. Pray that we will be able to find the right family for that. We praise God that we have a house to live in next year in the US. We still need to purchase a van for our use in the US and to sell our two vans here in the Philippines before we leave in mid June.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us. We have much to be thankful for and much to do before we leave!

In Christ,
Walter and Cheryl Spicer

Thank you for your prayers and concern for us. For the month of April we received $6865 towards our debt and tickets, specifically, $3500 for our tickets and $3365 for our debt. We are thankful for all that God has provided this month and trusting Him for the remainder.

We are all looking forward to coming home. We still have much to do with various activities and school projects, besides packing and sorting, but it is coming up quick. We are still waiting to sign the contract on our "new" house and looking for the right family to sub-let for us while we are gone. We have had 3 inquiries. Two of them won’t be able to look at it or decide until next week.

In the midst of all that is happening, God sent us a “cup of cold water” to refresh and encourage us. I began my teaching career over 20 years ago. As a new teacher, I knew I made many mistakes and my lessons needed work, yet I knew God called me to the field of education. I taught for two years in a small Christian school in Wichita, teaching the same kids two years in a row. I just moved up with them. One of them was a bright middle schooler that had plenty of energy that occasionally got him in trouble. I left for the mission field and loss track of him and all of all my former students, but I continued sending my prayer letter to those who had not moved (their parents). Last week that boy sent me a letter that I will cherish. In it he described his journey; he turned away from God—but God got a hold of him and he is now in a Christian rehab center. His plans are to go to Bible college. He states, “I have to say thank you for being such a great teacher. So many things that you taught have stayed with me. I only wish I would have listened better and applied these important truths sooner.” He closes saying, “I miss you and love you. You are certainly in my prayers.” (Proverbs 25:25, “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.”)

I was humbled that God could use me straight out of college and encouraged that He will continue to use me. Just as that young man thanked me, we want to thank you for being part of the team. Without your prayer and financial support, we could not be here ministering for Him.

Again, thank you!

Walter and Cheryl Spicer

Our third quarter has come to an end. Sports season for our kids is done. Ben, Ashley and Juliana did well and enjoyed themselves. The girls played together on a team and had a great season. Ashley even joined a 3 on 3 tournament; they did well and almost made it to the championship game. Ben enjoyed his trip to the Far East Tournament in Korea and they came back with 3rd place. It was an eventful trip with many fun memories. Back in the Philippines at the sports assembly, Ben was awarded the Coaches Award for his hard work, faithfulness, and “doing the little things” that are not noticed but help win games (boxing out, rebounding, etc.).

We will be enjoying some much needed family time during our March school break. Part of it will be spent sorting and packing up our things. Please pray for wisdom as we decide what to do with our house here in the Philippines and how to store things.

This week, a lady came from the US to talk about transition. Our children have been raised here in the Philippines and have developed a culture of their own; a mix of many cultures and their many experiences here. Going back to the US (some students are from other countries as well), they will have many adjustments and will be out of their comfort zone and away from the people who are most familiar to them. Our seniors spent several days in a transition seminar to prepare them for not only reentry, but college life. Please pray for our seniors, the families who are going back to their home country for home assignment and us as we all make those adjustments. Also pray for us as we say our good-byes, some for a year or two and some for good. Pray especially for the families of seniors.

This next quarter will be a busy one. It seems that there are many projects and activities that occur during this quarter. On top of all that, Philippines summer is here. It is already beginning to get hot and is enough to zap our energy. Pray that we will all stay strong until the end.

Walter will be busy fourth quarter doing his teacher observations and writing reports and working on the middle school budget for next school year. It has been a busy year that has stretched us, but God continues to be faithful to supply the needed grace.

Do pray for our finances; we have struggled since the dollar dropped against the peso. We essentially have a 20% cut in the amount of money that we receive. With that inflation, we continue to go further in the red. We are scheduled to return to the States for our home assignment in June and have looked into purchasing our return tickets and have found some at a decent price but do not have the money to purchase them.

We are blessed by many people praying for us and giving financially. God has even brought new supporters and some that have increased our support. We are thankful and looking to God for the finances for our monthly support, finances for our return tickets and finances to finish our term here and start our home assignment in the United States.

Thank you,

Walter and Cheryl Spicer

Thank you for praying for us. We all had a wonderful time during Outdoor Education. It was an honor to be the coordinator this year. It is a huge program that involves 300 people for an entire week. We usually go to the same sites and just modify the program slightly, but this year we changed two of the three sites, plus we used different transportation. God worked everything out beautifully and we were all blessed. We had three sites: beach camp (which was our main camp), a reef site, and an island with a volcano. On Monday, everyone was together. This year we visited a Philippine high school and did a Fine Arts Festival with them, singing and playing our band instruments. After the Festival, we traveled to our Beach Site. Then we split into three traveling groups on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, rotating among the three sites.

At the beach camp we taught the students how to prepare a chicken dinner from scratch—a live chicken. In the early evening we had a ministry, involving everyone, using their different talents—playing basketball, singing, performing skits, playing little kids games, and handing out bracelets with the colors of the Wordless Book. It is an effective tool that the kids used to share the Gospel. The students did well mingling, making friends, and sharing the gospel.

At the reef, we taught them how to snorkel and gave them the option of a Discovery Dive (a short introductory scuba dive) or a craft. We also had some marine specimens for them to see in tanks and they dissected a squid. In all these activities, they learned many things about marine life.

At the volcano, they hiked inside the crater, swam in the sulfuric lake, and saw large, active fumaroles (a vent that spews water and steam that smells like sulfur).

We had a speaker every evening challenging them from God’s Word focusing on our relationship with God, our relationship with others, and our own character. It is so encouraging to hear the many stories of how God challenged so many students. One student was saved and many others have a closer walk with Christ now. Another student who hated his father is now developing his relationship with his heavenly father and earthly father. Those are the stories that make all those long days and hours that you pour into Outdoor Ed worth it.

Thank you for standing behind us in prayer,

Walter and Cheryl Spicer

*Pray for Walter as he takes on the role of middle school principal for one semester
* Pray for all the senior activities, especially at the end of the year (senior trip, baccalaureate, graduation, etc). Walter is still their class advisor
* Pray for our preparations for our home assignment June 2008-July 2009 (vehicles, kids’ schooling, visits to churches and supporters, our roles)
* Pray for preparation for Ben’s future (applying to colleges, looking to God for His will in Ben’s life, and our “letting go”)
* Pray for the planning for the week of Outdoor Education of which Walter is in charge (there is a lot of work going into this)
* Pray for our financial situation, especially as the dollar value has dropped in Asia
*Praise the Lord for Juliana’s obedience in baptism and for her testimony of faith in God

*Praise that we have a house in which to live and Paul and Ashley’s schooling is provided for next school year

The New Year has begun with our family going “full tilt” again. We started our year with our New Tribes Mission Conference. It was so wonderful and refreshing to get together with our co-workers, some from remote areas, and share what God is doing in our lives and ministries. We heard stories of God’s Word being taught to believers and nonbelievers. God’s Word is being translated in many dialects; some are very near completion. Our children had a fantastic time renewing friendships with kids they don’t see very often and enjoying activities while we were in meetings. Another highlight for us was Juliana’s desire to be baptized. Walter again had the privilege of baptizing one of our children and our New Tribes family was there to witness her expression of faith.

We are back full swing at school with basketball games and the planning of the week of Outdoor Education next month. Walter has been very busy planning all the details and sending out teams of adults to finalize situations at the various sites (ministry, transportation, accommodations, etc). This year the theme is the volcano site with various other activities as well, including visiting a fine arts high school, seeing God’s underwater creation, a ministry with the local people, cooking their dinner, and a special speaker each night at the various sites. I will also go along as the camp nurse. Please pray for the planning of all the activities for this week as well as the week itself (safety, etc), and especially for the middle school students’ reception to God’s Word as they listen to the speaker each night. Also pray for Ben, Paul and Abby as they will be left behind with another family.